Police kills 2 notorious bandits, loses officer in special operation

BY OUR EDITOR

The police said its men on special operations in the Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, have killed two of the most wanted bandits and cattle rustlers in the northern part of Nigeria, while two others, a Boko Haram commander and notorious kidnapper were injured.

A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, named the dead as Haruna Basullube and Bashir Leta, while Mallam Abba and one Mofa were the injured.

The statement also disclosed that a policeman was killed while many others sustained injuries in the operation carried out by Special Operatives of Operation Puff Adder of the Nigeria Police backed by the Special Forces of the Police Airwing.

“Inspite of the successes of the operation, one Inspector Muhammed Abubakar attached to the Police Special Forces regrettably died as a result of injuries sustained in the heat of the combat. Thirteen other officers (made up of 2 SPs, 1 DSP, 4 Inspectors and 6 Sergeants) including the Pilot and Co-pilot of the Police helicopter, sustained different degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment,” the Force spokesman said.

The late Inspector Muhammed Abubakar, according to Mba, was one of the finest officers of the Police Special Forces with vast training and operational background, both at home and abroad.

“He was among the pioneer set of the Police Special Forces trained in Belarus. Born on July 8, 1985, he was enlisted into the Nigeria Police on June 1, 2008 as a Constable and rose to the rank of Inspector of Police before his untimely death. As a member of the Special Forces, he participated in several successful Police operations and joint missions with the military in the fight against insurgency both in and outside the North-eastern part of the country,” Mba said of the fallen officer.

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While the operation lasted, a Police Bell helicopter, which provided aerial and intelligence cover for the ground troops came under attack from the bandits who were said to be using sophisticated anti-aircraft rifles and GPMG.

“Commendably, the pilot and the co-pilot who demonstrated uncommon courage and expertise, successfully landed the aircraft at the Air Force Base, Kaduna without further incident. They were thereafter evacuated for medical treatment. Both officers who sustained non-life-threatening injuries are currently receiving treatment and are in stable condition.

“The Police helicopter has since been flown out of the Kaduna Air Force Base by Police Pilots en-route to Abuja,” the statement stated.

The operation which started in the early hours of Wednesday, was carried out by a combined team of operatives of Operation Puff Adder made up of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

It was targeted at the largest operational camps of the Ansaru Terror Group (also housing other bandits and kidnappers) located in Kuduru Forest, Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State.

Mba said the operation which was necessitated by “actionable intelligence linking terror and criminal elements,” successfully neutralised over 250 high-profile members of the Ansaru Terror Group.

Meanwhile, citizens living in and around Birnin-Gwari axis of Kaduna State have been enjoined to be on the lookout for fleeing bandits, especially those with bullet wounds and report every suspicious behaviour to the Police.